Ladder brace



Jan. 2, 1934. H. B. GAFFERs LADDER BRACE Filed May 27, 1930 /N VEN To@ Her/m 60//2/5 Afro/away Yic Patented Jan. 2, 1934 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

My invention relates to ladders and particularly to an improved side brace for holding the body of a stepladder and the standard in proper relative position when the ladder is in use.

As is well known in the art, it is usual to connect the stiles of the ladder with the standard by means of two fol-ding braces, one at either side, and which, when opened or straightened, form substantially rigid means for maintaining the stiles and standard in xed relation and prevent the ladder from collapsing when used. Most of these braces are formed by two metal straps which are lapped together and pivotally connected at the overlap by means of a pin or rivet. Some means is provided-such as a struck-out portion on one of the straps which coacts with a notch in the other strap-whereby, when the brace is straightened out it forms an element which will withstand a limited load as a column without folding up. The usual form of brace is not sufficiently rigid or strong because the two parts thereof are overlapped, and when the brace is straightened those parts are not in alignment. Furthermore, all of such braces, so far as I am aware, are so designed that the hand of a person attempting either to open or close the brace may be very severely pinched.

The objects of my invention, therefore, are to provide a ladder brace comprising two pivotally connected or hinged elements which always lie in the same plane so that when the brace is opened or straightened and intended to function as a loaded column it will be much more rigid and stronger than a brace in which the separate elements do not lie in the same plane but are offset from each other and overlap. Another object of my invention is to provide a ladder brace which may be folded or straightened without any possibility of acci-dental injury to the hands of a person seeking to operate it.

With these objects in view my invention ncludes the novel elements and the combinations and arrangements of elements described below and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is an elevation view of a stepladder showing my brace attached thereto:

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the brace when straightened;

Fig. 3 is a section of Fig. 2 on the plane 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the brace in folded position;

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of a detail; and

Fig. 6 illustrates a side elevation of my device in the half open position.

Referring to the drawing, my brace comprises two main members, 1 and 2. The member, 1, is a straight fiat piece of metal of substantially uniform section throughout while the member, 2, at one end, is provided with a toe, 3, preferably extending at right angles therefrom so that in elevation the member, 2, is L-shaped. The elements, l and 2, are pivotally connected by means of a hinge element, 4, so that they lie in the same plane as defined by the surfaces of greatest area of the elements, but having the axes of said links offset from each other in said plane. The element, 4, is preferably L-shaped in elevationv and F preferably comprises a flat piece of metal which is bent into a U-shaped section adapted to closely embrace within the U, the elements, 1 and 2. In the embodiment illustrated, the element 4 is secured to the end of the plate 1 and forms an extension thereof.

Referring to Figs.Y 2 and 4, it will be observed that the element, 1, is riveted within the U- member by rivets, 5, while the member, 2, is pivotally secured within the hinge element by means of a hinge pin, 6. This pin is so located in relation to elements, l, 2 and 4, Vthat when the upper and lower edges of the element, 1, are parallel with the corresponding edges of element, 2, the offset portion, 3, abuts against the end of element, l, as shown in Fig. 2 thus providing a positive stop limiting the relative movement of the elements, 1 and 2.

It will be apparent from an examination of Figs. 2, 4 and 6 that the offset portion, 3, of element, 2, is within the U-shaped member during the greater portion of its movement, although it projects, in the embodiment illustrated beyond the U-shaped member when the brace is completely folded, as shown in Fig. 4. If desired, the portion, 7, of the U-shaped member may be eX- tended so as to enclose the offset portion, 3, when in the position shown in Fig. 4, but I find that any danger of a finger being caught in the angle, 8, between the offset portion, 3, and the U-shaped member is eliminated by rounding the edges, 9, of the U-shaped member. When the member is rounded as shown it is almost impossible for a finger to catch therein because it is forced outwardly over the curved surface. The extreme ends of the elements, 1 and 2, are provided with openings, 10 and 11, to receive pins for pivotally connecting them to the ladder as shown in Fig. 1. From the foregoing, it will be apparent that when my brace is straightened as `shown in Fig. 2 it will form a substantially straight column in which both elements, 1 and 2, lie in the same plane and furthermore, since the offset portion, 3, of element, 2, is concealed within the U-shaped element, 4, during the greater portion of its movement there will be no danger of anyone pinching their ngers.

While I have described my invention in its preferred embodiment it is to be understood that the words which'I have'used are words of description rather thanv of limitation and that changes within the purview of the appended claims may be made without departing from the true scope and spirit of my invention in its broader aspects.

What I claim is- 1. A brace for a ladder or the like comprising a first and a second plate and lying in sub-y Vwhen the brace is in Open position, means for pivoting said plates together, said second plate .being formed with a toe extending at an angle to said plate and engageable with the end of the rst plate when the brace is in open position, and associated means normally forming a housing for the adjacent ends of said plates during the relative movements thereofl 2. A brace `for a ladder or the like comprising a rst and a second plate located substantially in the s ame plane as defined by the surfaces of greatest area of the plates, butJ having their axes offset from each other in said plane when the brace is in open position, a pair of plates secured against the sides of said nrst plate and extending beyond the end thereof, said second plate being pivoted to and between' the extended portions of said pair of plates and provided with a toe extending at an angle to the axis of the plate and engageable with the end of said rst plate when the brace is in open position.

3. A brace for a ladder or the like comprising a first and a second plate located substantially in the same plane but offset from each other in said plane when the brace is in open position, a U-shaped member extending around said iirst plate at one end thereof and having its sides secured to said rst plate and extending beyond the end thereof, said second plate being pivoted between the extended portions of the U-shaped member and provided with a toe engaging the end of said rst plate when the two plates are in open position.

4. A brace for a ladder or the like comprising a rst and a second plate located substantially in the same plane as defined by the surfaces of greatest area of the plates, but having their axes offset from each other in said plane when the brace is in open position, a U-shaped member extending around said rst plate at one end thereof and having its sides secured to said rst plate and extending beyond the end thereof, said second plate being pivoted between the extended portions of the U-shaped member.

5. A brace for a ladder or the like comprising a rst and a second plate located substantially in the same plane as defined by the surfaces of greatest area of the plates, but having their axes offset from each other in said plane when the brace is in open position, and side plates secured to the end of said first plate on opposite sides thereof, the end of said second plate being pivoted to said side plates and housed between the same, the end of said second plate being provided with a toe arranged at an angle to the axis of the plate and engageable with the end of said nrst plate.

6. A brace for a ladder or the like comprising a i'lrst anda second plate located substantially in the same plane as deined by the surfaces of greatest areaof the plates, but having their axes offset from each other in said plane when the brace 'is Ain, open position, side plates secured to the 'endof said rst plate on'opposite sides thereof, the end of said second plate being pivoted to said side plates and housedbetween the same, and associated means yfor limiting the movement of said first and second plates relatively to each other.

'7. A brace for a ladder or the like comprising a lirst and a second plate lying in substantially the same plane as dened by the surfaces of greatest area of the plates, but having their axes oiset'from veach other said plane when the brace is in open position, and means for pivoting said plates together, said second plate being vno 

